Cristiano Ronaldo is a "smart guy" and was aware his sensational interview with Piers Morgan would end his Manchester United career.
That's according to Morgan, who has been discussing his chat with the Portugal international, 37, on American TV. Ronaldo's contract was mutually terminated after the player launched a series of stinging attacks at United in the interview earlier this month.
Ronaldo is now on the hunt for a new club, with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr keen to sign the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. No decision on his future is expected until after Portugal's World Cup campaign ends in Qatar. The final is pencilled in for December 18.
Ronaldo hit the headlines after claiming United's owners the Glazers "don't care" about the Premier League and insisting he "doesn't respect" manager Erik ten Hag. The forward also hit out at ex-United employees Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney and Ralf Rangnick.
Morgan has spoken to several media outlets since the first quotes from his talkTV interview were published two weeks ago. The broadcaster has now told American TV channel FS1 that Ronaldo organised the interview - and the player "knew" what he was doing.
"To be brutally honest, I think that he knew," said Morgan. "Look, he’s a very smart guy, Cristiano, he knows what he’s doing.
"He and I have built a relationship going back a few years now, and when he rang me he was like - 'I want to do an interview, I want to say everything'. I said, 'If you say everything I think you’re going to say, then you’re probably going to have to leave the club'.
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"He went, 'I know'. So he knew what he was getting into. He didn’t think it was a certainty, he didn’t want to say in the interview I’m definitely leaving, I’m going to leave United.
"But this was a guy who at the end of his tenure felt he was being disrespected by the coach, Ten Hag, by the owners who he said he’d never even met [and] by the executives of the club who didn’t even believe him when he said his daughter was sick.
"So you put it all together you’ve got a disrespected guy who I think is the best to ever play the game. He said enough."
Ronaldo has tried to play down the media attention that's followed his interview, as Portugal look to win their first ever World Cup in Qatar. Fernando Santos' side won their opening game against Ghana on Thursday and take on Uruguay on Monday.
Ronaldo was asked about his controversial United exit after the Ghana win. The Real Madrid legend said, "The most important step was that we won. This chapter is closed after this week. Now we start on a good foot. I helped my team and now it is done."
